# US 12,009,503 B2 · Electroactive particles having electronically conductive coatings

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- Number: US 12,009,503 B2
- Document ID: US12009503B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/039,034
- Filed: 2020-09-30
- Published: 2022-03-31
- Granted: 2024-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2020-09-30
- Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
- Applicants: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
- Inventors: Mark W. Verbrugge; Xingcheng Xiao; Qinglin Zhang; Xingyi Yang; Raghunathan K
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12009503B2

## CPC

- H01M 4/1395: of electrodes based on metals, Si or alloys
- H01M 10/052: Li-accumulators
- H01M 4/0452: {from solutions}
- H01M 4/0471: {involving thermal treatment, e.g. firing, sintering, backing particulate active material, thermal decomposition, pyrolysis}
- H01M 4/134: Electrodes based on metals, Si or alloys
- Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries
- Y02P 70/50: Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS

## Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a negative electrode material and methods of preparation and use relating thereto. The electrode material comprises a plurality of electroactive material particles, where each electroactive material particle includes an electroactive material core and an electronically conductive coating. The method includes contacting an electroactive material precursor including a plurality of electroactive material particles with a solution so as to form an electronically conductive coating on each of the electroactive material particles. The solution includes a solvent and one or more of copper fluoride (CuF2), titanium tetrafluoride (TiF3 or TiF4), iron fluoride (FeF3), nickel fluoride (NiF2), manganese fluoride (MnF2, MnF3, or MnF4), and vanadium fluoride (VF3, VF4, VF5). The electronically conductive coating includes a plurality of first regions and a plurality of second regions. The plurality of first regions include lithium fluoride. The plurality of second regions include one of copper, titanium, iron, nickel, manganese, and vanadium.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for preparing an electrode material for use in an electrochemical cell, the method comprising:
contacting an electroactive material precursor comprising a plurality of electroactive material particles with a solution so as to form an electronically conductive coating on each of the electroactive material particles,
the coated electroactive material particles defining the electrode material,
at least a portion of the plurality of electroactive material particles comprising a prelithiated electroactive material represented by LixSi where 0<x≤3.75,
the solution comprising a solvent and one or more of copper fluoride (CuF2), titanium tetrafluoride (TiF4), titanium trifluoride (TiF3), iron fluoride (FeF3), nickel fluoride (NiF2), manganese fluoride (MnF2, MnF3, or MnF4), vanadium fluoride (VF3, VF4, VF5), and combinations thereof,
the electronically conductive coating comprising a plurality of first regions and a plurality of second regions,
the plurality of first regions comprising lithium fluoride, and
the plurality of second regions comprising one of copper, titanium, iron, nickel, manganese, and vanadium.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises prelithiating the electroactive material precursor.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the electroactive material precursor is prelithiated using a thermal evaporation process.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of: dimethyl ether, hexane, toluene, and combinations thereof.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein contacting occurs using one of a spray process and a dip process.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises drying the coated electroactive material particles so as to remove the solvent.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises applying a vacuum infiltration process so as to surround the electroactive material precursor with the solution.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the electronically conductive coating is a result of a conversion reaction between the solution and the electroactive material particles.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the solution comprises copper fluoride (CuF2), and the conversion reaction is defined as:
y(CuF2)+LixSi→2y(LiF)+Li(x-2y)Si+yCu
where x>2y.

### Claim 10

A method for preparing an electrode material for use in an electrochemical cell, the method comprising:
prelithiating a silicon-containing electroactive material precursor so as to form a prelithiated silicon-containing electroactive material represented by LixSi where 0<x≤3.75, and
contacting the prelithiated silicon-containing electroactive material with a solution comprising a solvent and one or more of copper fluoride (CuF2), titanium tetrafluoride (TiF4), titanium trifluoride (TiF3), iron fluoride (FeF3), nickel fluoride (NiF2), manganese fluoride (MnF2, MnF3, or MnF4), and vanadium fluoride (VF3, VF4, VF5) so as to form an electronically conductive coating on the prelithiated silicon-containing electroactive material so as to form a coated prelithiated electroactive material that defines the electrode material, the electronically conductive coating including a plurality of first regions and a plurality of second regions, the plurality of first regions comprising lithium fluoride and the plurality of second regions comprising one of copper, titanium, iron, nickel, manganese, and vanadium.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises drying the coated prelithiated electroactive material so as to remove the solvent.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises applying a vacuum infiltration process so as to surround the prelithiated silicon-containing electroactive material with the solution.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of: dimethyl ether, hexane, toluene, and combinations thereof.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the electronically conductive coating is a result of a conversion reaction between the solution and the prelithiated silicon-containing electroactive material.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the solution comprises copper fluoride (CuF2), and the conversion reaction is defined as:
y(CuF2)+LixSi→2y(LiF)+Li(x-2y)Si+yCu
where x>2y.